On Wednesday, November 9th, Dr. Yoshinori Ohsumi, Honorary Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology, visited JSPS’s Tokyo Office. Dr. Ohsumi has been selected for the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. During his visit, Dr. Ohsumi engaged in a discussion with JSPS President Dr. Yuichiro Anzai and other JSPS executives.

In their discussion, Dr. Ohsumi talked about the importance of research that is driven by intellectual curiosity without pressure to think about its application and the need for an environment in which such research can be carried out over a long term. He, then, presented Dr. Anzai with a signed message card on which he wrote “Lessons from Yeast shiru yorokobi (knowing joy).” It was within yeast cells that Dr. Ohsumi had discovered the phenomenon of autophagy. As another memento, he gave Dr. Anzai a bottle of sake, made with yeast, having a signed label designed to depict autophagy.

The JSPS executives were delighted that Dr. Ohsumi had taken time out of his very busy schedule to have a conversation in which they could directly receive his ideas on advancing basic research.

Our heartiest congratulation goes to Dr. Yoshinori Ohsumi, Honorary Professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology, on his selection for the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

The Nobel Prize will be awarded to Dr. Ohsumi for the immense contribution he has made to the science of cell biology by elucidating the mechanism of disassembly inside cells, called autophagy. Initiating his research using yeast, he found that when cells are placed in a starvation-induced condition that they degrade and recycle cell organelles and unused proteins. This mechanism being an essential physiological function in both animals and plants, autophagy was established as an important new field of life science.

For his highly appraised, epochal research achievements, Dr. Ohsumi received last year’s International Prize for Biology. JSPS has also supported the advancement of his cutting-edge research with Grants-in-Aid. We are, therefore, doubly pleased that Dr. Ohsumi has been selected for a Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine.

I believe that this award of the Nobel Prize gives recognition to the global impact exerted by Japan’s basic research while being a source of pride and encouragement to those engaged in scientific pursuits, especially younger researchers who with great zest and vigor are pushing forward their work toward similar scientific milestones.

Driven by the power of knowledge, JSPS will continue carrying out its program in ways that enable Japan to contribute to global society. Most especially, we will support a wide range of creative research rooted in researchers own free ideas, will working to create an environment in which young researchers will go out into the world and give birth to ever-more milestone research results.

October 4, 2016
Dr. Yuichiro Anzai
President
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, JSPS

11/19/2015 Nobel Prize Selectee Prof. Takaaki Kajita Visits JSPS

On Monday, November 16th, Nobel Prize in Physics selectee Prof. Takaaki Kajita, Director of the University of Tokyo’s Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, visited JSPS’s Tokyo Office where he conversed with JSPS president Dr. Yuichiro Anzai and other JSPS executives.

Talking about the need to support basic research, Prof. Kajita told Dr. Anzai about the current international state of research in neutrino physics. At the core of his message was that it is basic research which “pioneers” knowledge frontiers. He went on to talk about his future aspirations, which include continuing his research activities by making extensive use of the large-scale cryogenic gravitational wave telescope KAGRA.

We very much appreciated Dr. Kajita taking time out of his busy schedule to visit JSPS and engage in a conversation with us—in which we got an acute sense of his passion and zeal for research.

Our heartiest congratulation go to Prof. Takaaki Kajita, Director of the University of Tokyo’s Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, on his selection for the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics.

By revealing the previously unknown phenomenon of neutrino oscillation, Prof. Kajita made the ground-breaking discovery that neutrinos have mass. This finding constituted a quantum advance in particle physics, the Standard Model of which had assumed that neutrinos had no mass. We are exceedingly pleased that Prof. Kajita’s accomplishments are so highly appraised, and ecstatic that JSPS’s Grants-in-Aid have supported portions of his cutting-edge research endeavors.

The award of this Nobel Prize gives recognition to the global impact exerted by Japan’s basic research while being a source of pride and encouragement to those engaged in scientific pursuit, especially younger researchers who with great zest and vigor push forward their work.

Driven by the power of knowledge, JSPS will continue carrying out its program in ways that enable Japan to contribute to global society. Most especially, we will support a wide range of creative research rooted in researchers own free ideas, will working to create an environment in which young researchers will go out into the world and give birth to ever-more milestone research results.

Message by Dr. Yuichiro Anzai,
President, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Our heartiest congratulation go to Dr. Satoshi Ōmura, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Kitasato University, on his selection for the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Dr. Ōmura discovered the drug Ivermectin, which spawned a revolution in the treatment of parasitic diseases, providing a powerful means to combat River Blindness and save the lives of multitudes afflicted with parasitic infections. We are exceedingly pleased that the fruits of Dr. Ōmura’s tedious research efforts have been so greatly beneficial and highly appraised.

The award of this Nobel Prize gives recognition to Japan’s basic research, which seeds and gives bloom to the kind of innovation that contributes to the betterment of people’s lives and health around the world. Dr. Ōmura’s accomplishments are a source of pride and encouragement to those engaged in scientific pursuit, especially younger researchers who with great zest and vigor push forward their work.

Driven by the power of knowledge, JSPS will continue carrying out its program in ways that enable Japan to contribute to global society. Most especially, we will support a wide range of creative research rooted in researchers own free ideas, will working to create an environment in which young researchers will go out into the world and give birth to ever-more milestone research results.

Message by Dr. Yuichiro Anzai,
President, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

03/06/2015 Nobel Prize Dialogue Tokyo 2015

On 1 March, Nobel Prize Dialogue Tokyo 2015 was held in the conference hall at the Tokyo International Forum. Cosponsored by JSPS and Nobel Media, this was the first time for this publically open-forum to be held outside of Sweden. From 2012, the event had been held under the title “Nobel Week Dialogue” around the time of the Nobel Prize Ceremony.

At this whole-day event, a vibrant constellation of seven Nobel laureates, including Drs. Shinya Yamanaka, Koichi Tanaka and Hiroshi Amano from Japan, and world-leading scientists delivered lectures on science at the frontiers of their respective fields and participated in panel discussions.

In the opening ceremony, welcoming messages were offered by Dr. Yuichiro Anzai, president of JSPS and Dr. Lars Heikensten, executive director of Nobel Foundation on behalf of the cosponsoring organizations. Then, special remarks were delivered by Mr. Hakubun Shimomura, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

This dialogue on “The Genetic Revolution and Its Future Impact” explored the impacts of life science advances in such fields as genetics and genomics on future society. Among the various cutting-edge topics addressed were medical applications of iPS cell research, personalized medicine, and ramifications of genetically modified foods. On these and other topics inter-connecting science and society, a spirited discussion was advanced via a program of lecturers, panel discussion streams, and Q&A sessions with the audience.

The curtain closed on this immensely powerful event with a panel discussion among exclusively the Nobel laureates. Over the course of the day, the audience, comprising both Japanese and people from around the world, had engaged in a stimulating dialogue with the eminent lecturers, bringing science and society yet another step closer together. People, including in other countries, who were unable to attend the event could view it live over the Dialogue’s dedicated website.

Following the event, a reception was held in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress and Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress communed with Nobel Laureates and young researchers.

In their conversation, Dr. Amano mentioned how the active participation of graduate students and other young researchers is indispensable to advancing scientific research. Looking back at the development of the blue light-emitting diode, he said that it was accomplished through a steadfast pursuit of basic research advanced over a long period of time. There was one point upon which Dr. Amano said he wanted to place special emphasis, which is that “support for basic research is an investment in mankind’s future.”

Dr. Amano also talked about his aspiration of attaining greater energy saving by increasing the quality of gallium nitride (GaN) used in today’s LED’s.

We very much appreciated Dr. Amano taking time out of his busy schedule to visit JSPS and engage in a conversation with us—one in which we felt an acute sense of his passion and zeal for research.

10/14/2014 JSPS President’s Message of Congratulations to Professors Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura on Their Receipt of the Nobel Prize in Physics

As global frontrunners, these three Nobel Prize recipients succeeded in developing the high-luminance blue light-emitting diode. This not only made possible the advent of the low-energy blue light but the white light as well. Their breakthrough has contributed greatly to economizing energy resources while giving the world new light sources. This accomplishment is seen as a powerful outcome of Japan’s basic research, one which I am very grateful has been appraised anew.

A commonality that runs through the activities of these three Prize recipients is the way in which their own creative ideas drive basic research that sprouts seeds of innovation.

If the support that Professors Akasaki and Amano have received from our Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research has been of assistance in advancing their research to this lofty height, we at JSPS would be extremely pleased.

I look forward to this award of the Nobel Prize being a source of courage and pride to all those engaged in scientific research, particularly young researchers who while toiling away at an early stage of their careers are zestfully endeavoring to expand science’s frontiers.

In the future as well, JSPS will vigorously support various genres of creative research advanced by researchers’ own free ideas while we work to create an environment conducive for young researchers to generate new, world-leading research results. In such ways, JSPS will strive to sustain Japan as a country among nations with the capability of creating “knowledge.”

October 8, 2014
Dr. Yuichiro Anzai
President
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, JSPS

06/20/2014 JSPS Summer Program Has Started

This year's Summer Program kicked off with an orientation held at the Shonan Village Center in the coastal town of Hayama in Kanagawa Prefecture. The welcoming reception was attended by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, who were pleased to chat with the participating young researchers.

This program is held over a 2-month period during the summer. The young pre- and post-doctoral researchers who participate in it are first given an orientation on Japanese culture and Japan's research systems, after which they conduct joint research with a Japanese host at a university or research institute.

Each year, about 110 young researchers nominated by JSPS counterpart organizations in the US, UK, France, Germany, Canada and Sweden participate in the Summer Program.

05/07/2014 Delegation of the European Union to Japan to organise "European Higher Education Fair 2014 from 16-18 May

The Delegation of the European Union to Japan, together with several other organisations , will organise in May the 'European Higher Education Fair 2014'. The event will endeavour to showcase to Japanese students, researchers, as well as to those already in employment looking to bolster their career through the acquisition of additional qualifications, some of the most interesting higher education programmes that Europe has to offer.The fair, which will take place 16-17 May at Meiji University's Surugadai Campus in Tokyo and 18 May at Doshisha University's Imadegawa Campus in Kyoto, is designed to provide the latest information on the study programmes of more than 60 academic institutions in over 10 European countries. The Tokyo event will offer individual presentations by the institutions, as well seminars on opportunities for study and research abroad.

04/26/2013 Delegation of the European Union to Japan to organise "European Higher Education Fair 2013 from 17-19 May

The Delegation of the European Union to Japan, together with several other organisations, will organise in May the 'European Higher Education Fair 2013'. The event will endeavour to showcase to Japanese students, researchers, as well as to those already in employment looking to bolster their career through the acquisition of additional qualifications, some of the most interesting higher education programmes that Europe has to offer. The fair, which will take place 17-18 May at Meiji University's Surugadai Campus in Tokyo and 19 May at Doshisha University's Imadegawa Campus in Kyoto, is designed to provide the latest information on the study programmes of more than 50 academic institutions in over 10 European countries. The Tokyo event will offer individual presentations by the institutions, as well seminars on opportunities for study and research abroad.

JSPS’s Tokyo Headquarters will consolidate its two offices into one building and move to the NEW location in December 2012. Please update your records accordingly. We are very sorry if this relocation should cause you any inconvenience.

University-Industry Cooperation & Research Program Division [6th and 7th floors]

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Overseas Training Program Division [6th floor]

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International Program Department [5th floor]

(3)

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

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Executive Offices and General Affairs Division [11th floor]

(4)

Friday, January 4, 2013

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Research Center for Science Systems [9th floor]

Research Fellowship Division [6th floor]

Appreciative of your understanding and cooperation,
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

11/08/2012 J-BILAT final seminar will be held on Thursday, 6 December 2012

J-BILAT final seminar will be held on Thursday, 6 December 2012 in Tokyo. The J-BILAT has been promoting EU-Japan cooperation in Science, Technology
and Innovation (STI) especially through enhanced Japanese participation in
FP7. In this final event to be organized by J-BILAT, various aspects and phases
of EU-Japan cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) will
be reviewed with the objective of sharing visions towards further
reinforcement of the EU-Japan cooperation in STI.

08/15/2011 CONCERT-Japan Stakeholders Conference on Europe – Japan STI Cooperation was held in Budapest on 26 July 2011

The first Stakeholders Conference of the CONCERT-Japan (Connecting and Coordinating European Research and Technology Development with Japan) Project was held on 26 July 2011 in Budapest, Hungary. The event brought together a various range of stakeholders interested in the future of Europe – Japan cooperation in science, technology and innovation.

3/29/2011 Summary of the second Japan-UK Higher Education Symposium

On 18-19 November, the second Japan-UK Higher Education Symposium was held on the subject “Internationalisation of universities – How to enhance and maintain teaching and research quality.” Venued at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, the symposium was sponsored by JSPS, the British Council, Kyushu University and Japan Committee of Universities for International Exchange (JACUIE). This second symposium attracted some 80 university representatives from Japan and the UK. Discussions were advanced on three themes: Staff and student mobility, Transferable skills and career development of PhD students, and Developing a university-wide international ethos.
The symposium sharpened the participants’ perception of issues and differences relative to the internationalization of higher education in the two countries, jelling a renewed understanding of the need to establish a close relationship – one that can take advantage of opportunities for future bilateral collaboration.

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) plans to distribute some of the lectures given by the Nobel laureates during the 3rd HOPE Meeting (March 7-11, 2011, Tokyo) via “Ustream.”
If you are interested, please visit the following website.

Contact
Office of the HOPE Meetings
Asian Program Division, International Program Department
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Email: hope-meetings@jsps.go.jp
FAX: +81-3-3234-3700

02/18/2011 Outline of the kick-off meeting of the CONCERT-Japan project (ERA-NET Scheme) was posted.

The “CONCERT-Japan” project is carried out as a part of ERA-NET Scheme under the 7th Framework Program of the European Union. It started in January 2011 and will run for three years. It aims to strengthen collaborative ties between European countries and Japan by carrying out information exchanges, mutual learning, joint strategy building, and joint activities at the program level. JSPS participates in this project along with MEXT and JST.